Headin' T O the Pen, Bronze, Sharon Mcconnell © 2012
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Headin’ To The Pen, Bronze, Sharon McConnell © 2012 Welcome to the Museum of the Big Bend Home of Trappings of Texas! It's not unusual for a museum director to be asked, "What makes your museum special?" It happens every day. Visitors, staff, donors--they all want to know. For me the key to the Museum of the Big Bend’s special nature lies in the three aspects of its distinctive personality: its exhibits, its unique setting, and its commitment to the generation of new ideas while at the same time taking care in preservation of our rich history and culture. Founded in 1937, the Museum of the Big Bend has been a key factor in preserving western art and the Big Bend ranching culture. Our mission is grounded in the belief that the visual arts are an integral part of our lives, serving as an essential tool to educate young and old about our past, present, and future. With more 125 works of art and gear displayed this year at the 27th Annual Trappings of Texas Exhibit & Sale, the Museum provides a comprehensive opportunity to view some of the most talented traditional western artists’ creative achievements as we continue to celebrate our unique ranching heritage. The Trappings of Texas Exhibit & Sale continues to be the flagship event and exhibit at the Museum and it is through the commitment of so many that this Texas Tradition endures. This year, the Museum of the Big has even more reason to celebrate. September 21st through December 10th, 2013, the museum will exhibit the “Treasures from the Frederic Remington Museum” and host the Museum of the Big Bend Frederic Remington Symposium. As the biggest name in western art, Frederic Remington’s influence on Western Art cannot be overstated. From Ogdensburg, New York, works of art will travel over 2,000 miles to far West Texas to the Museum of the Big Bend. With over 24 pieces on exhibit, included will be the iconic bronze, “Bronco Buster” and the never toured before painting, “Charge of the Rough Riders.” We hope that you will plan on making a visit to the Museum of the Big Bend this fall for this once in a lifetime opportunity! But for now, sit back and enjoy the pages of this year’s catalog of works from some truly amazing artists that perhaps were inspired by the great Frederic Remington! Liz Jackson Director Sharon McConnell Headin’ to the Pen For nearly a decade, Sharon McConnell has been creating memorable bronze sculptures that express her deep passion and experience in the horse industry. Her bronzes have been featured in popular museums and leading art shows across the nation. Currently, three of her bronzes are prominently displayed in a leading Fort Worth restaurant. McConnell’s bronze, Headin’ to the Pen, is inspired by women horse trainers. “While men typically dominate the industry, women are often equally, if not more, successful,” says Sharon. Married to a trainer, McConnell is a trainer as well. Years ago, when McConnell wasn’t busy raising her two daughters or helping her husband in the barn or pen, she was painting. Her husband Ronnie suggested she take one of her paintings to well-known Western artist Chuck DeHaan. The day McConnell visited, Chuck was working with clay and, after seeing her work, suggested she try her hand at sculpting. That day she created her first bronze; done with thumbs and toothpicks. While she is considered self taught, she is thankful for being blessed with wonderful teachers such as DeHaan, Mel Lawson and a few others that didn’t mind sharing their knowledge. McConnell’s art is found in the private collections of ranchers, world champion horse owners and cutters. She also has two bronzes on display at Del Frisco’s Steakhouse in Fort Worth, “The Tallest Hog at the Trough” and “U Ol’ Goat.” After years in the industry, her work is now recognized at major museums and shows. McConnell’s art was recently featured at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. Her sculptures were displayed at the 2012 Trappings of Texas, The Phippen Museum 2012 Memorial Day Art Show in Prescott, Arizona, Breckenridge Fine Art Show at Breckenridge, Colorado, where she received an honorable mention, Bosque Art Classic, Clifton, Texas, and Expressions of the Soul in Weatherford. In 2013 she was chosen to exhibit in the show America’s Horse in Art, at Amarillo, Texas. McConnell and her husband have lived and trained horses in California, Colorado, Florida and the Texas Panhandle. From the horses to the land, her experiences are mirrored in her work. The Sul Ross Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association Birthplace of National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association For over sixty years, the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, NIRA, mission has been “Preserving Western heritage through collegiate rodeo.” Today there are over one hundred college rodeos a year, with one hundred and thirty-seven member schools and universities. But do you know the critical role that the Sul Ross Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association played in the formation of the NIRA? When members of the Sul Ross State Teachers College Clip and Brand Club met in October, 1947, an announcement was made that a Roping Club was being organized for students interested in roping and rodeoing. By November the Roping Club was organized and named the Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association. Months before the October and November announcements, students were practicing to compete in their first collegiate rodeo at John Tarleton College scheduled for late November. The student newspaper, Skyline, reported the results of this rodeo, “It was affirmed that the Sul Ross Rodeo Association won the trophy which was awarded to the school with the highest total number of points.” And in April of 1948, the Bar SR Bar six- man rodeo team won first place in the Hardin-Simmons Rodeo. NIRATrophyCup The Sul Ross Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association Birthplace of National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association With these back-to-back victories for the club, members decided to pursue holding an intercollegiate rodeo contest at Sul Ross. By that summer of 1948, club President Hank Finger and sponsor Dr. Everett E. Turner met with the college president, Dr. R. M. Hawkins about building an arena. The president agreed to provide the funds to purchase the materials if the club provided the manpower. The members flew into ac- tion, built the arena and by that fall, Sul Ross hosted its first intercollegiate rodeo the weekend of November 4th. That weekend representatives from the twelve colleges from Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas which had sent teams to compete, met to discuss the need Pictured above are members from the Sul Ross high-point team to create and organize an Intercollegiate at the first NIRA national college rodeo in San Francisco in 1949. Rodeo Association. Hank Finger was From left are Buster Lindley, Harley May, Hank Finger and Everett E. Turner. Finger is given the most credit for getting the NIRA off named committee chair to draft a constitu- the ground. He died in a car wreck in 1950. tion and by-laws. In short order, by April of 1949, representatives from Washington, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming met at the Shirley- Savoy Hotel in Denver, Colorado, and they adopted a constitution to govern the activi- ties of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Amazingly, within two short years, the Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association established the NIRA. The Bar SR Bar Rodeo Association contin- ues competing in the NIRA, an organization which it helped to create over sixty years ago. The Sul Ross State College championship team 1949-1950 with the trophy brought back from the first national intercollegiate rodeo in the Cow Palace, San Francisco. From left: Buster Lindley, Harley May, Charles Hall, Hank Finger, Gene Newman, Bob Hull All images courtesy of Archives of the Big Bend, and faculty sponsor Everett E. Turner. Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas. Harley May (June 2, 1926-October 28, 2008) Harley May, who was born and raised in Deming, New Mexico, worked on his father's ranch and dreamed of being a rodeo cowboy. When just a teen he began competing in nearby rodeos and won his first trophy saddle for being the All Around Cowboy at a junior rodeo at the age of thirteen. In 1945, his dream of becoming a cowboy was put on hold when he enlisted for a three-year stint in the Ar- my Air Corps and served in WW II. May returned to the ranch but that didn't last long. While he was plow- ing the field one day Bill Rush, a local cowboy pulled up to the field he was working. As May approached the big convertible with a matching horse trailer that he was driving, Rush said, "I'm hittin' the rodeo trail, and I want you to come with me." May is reported as saying, "That's all it took, I raced back to the house, threw some clothes in a suitcase and headed toward the rodeo in Silver City, New Mexico. I think I even left the tractor running!" Realizing the importance of a good education, May began his college career at New Mexico A&M then later transferred to Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas, where he majored in range animal science and graduated in 1951. While attending college and competing on the rodeo team, May and several other college students came up with the idea to create an organization similar to the Rodeo Cowboys Associa- tion, RCA.